Weddings Do's & Don'ts

TatiMarie

Just because the boards have been super slow lately...

What are somethings that you love & hate about weddings? For me it would be:

Don'ts--  Overly sexual garter toss, smashing the cake into the brides face, the cake toppers that have the bride dragging the groom, and overly tanned brides

Do's--Couples who are super nervous or emotional during the entire day (so cute),  DJs who don't play cliche music, couples who incorporate cultural aspects/their personalities into the day, and wedding cake (or any type of sweets)

Anyone else?

Love is Bald

Amen to the bride dragging groom cake topper... at first they were funny, now they are just gaudy.

aimers1525

I'm game!

Dont's--receiving lines, tulle decorations, Ipod DJ's/receptions, wedding party dances (who likes to dance with someone they've known for half a day?)

Do's--creative guestbooks, letting BM's pick out same color but different style dresses, open bar, sweetheart tables (I love them even though we're not having one), late night snacks

Amivy06

Dont's: Head tables (I hate separating bridal party members from dates who do not know anyone), the chicken dance or any other group dance, everything TatiMarie said.

Do's: Open bar, allow BM's to choose a dress style they are comfortable in, personal touches that reflect who the bride and groom are

.

jillybean7582

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_weddings-dos-donts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:3eef25e9-5513-4f69-b7de-ef4f59de98e2Post:62db534f-d87e-49e7-9c22-ba8da1eb5efd">Re: Weddings Do's & Don'ts</a>:
[QUOTE]Dont's: Head tables (I hate separating bridal party members from dates who do not know anyone), [/QUOTE]

This... I went to a wedding a few years back were my FI was in the wedding, I didn't know anyone, they did the head table but included the WP dates at the table with the WP.  The only time I had to be without my FI was during the WP intro's and the WP dance.  I thought this was a great idea... we will most likely be doing this....

MrsMLRB

DO's: Open bar (or at least beer and wine), good music, short toasts, cocktail hours with food,

Don'ts: Non edible favors (I have a candle from 2 years ago that is still sitting in a box), making your bridesmaids look like matching dolls, cash bars, receiving lines, gap times

PenelopeSnuz

Do's - Open Bar, letting your bridesmaids pick the dress, personal touches, edible favors, planning logistics with the guests in mind, looking like YOU at your wedding!! Toasting your guests for joining you on your wedding day.

Don'ts - Garter in general, monogramming every. single. thing., forcing your bridesmaids to wear the same dress, shoes, hair, jewelry.....don't you want your friends to be them?, dollar dances.....and I may be alone in this.....but I HATE chair covers!!! Way too much fabric...

MrsMLRB

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_weddings-dos-donts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:3eef25e9-5513-4f69-b7de-ef4f59de98e2Post:103ef529-dd02-4109-80ad-66f2d9f72fa7">Re: Weddings Do's & Don'ts</a>:
[QUOTE]and I may be alone in this.....but I HATE chair covers!!! Way too much fabric...
Posted by PenelopeSnuz[/QUOTE]
You're not! I hate chair covers too! I think they look ugly- you are better off choosing a venue with nice chairs (we did) or getting new chairs altogether.

lkeefner

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_weddings-dos-donts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:72Discussion:3eef25e9-5513-4f69-b7de-ef4f59de98e2Post:6d284d00-6ef0-42b7-b9a7-db1b8b35e64a">Re: Weddings Do's & Don'ts</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Weddings Do's & Don'ts : You're not! I hate chair covers too! I think they look ugly- you are better off choosing a venue with nice chairs (we did) or getting new chairs altogether.
Posted by MrsMLRB[/QUOTE]
 me too!!! i think they look crazy.  so gald my venue has beautiful chairs!!!

MrsG2B83

DO: Be yourself and have fun! It's your day, damnit!

DON'T go into debt
DON'T lose a ton of weight that you won't be able to keep off after the wedding
DON'T forget to thank the people who made this possible

And I completely agree with the idea of not mongramming EVERYTHING. It costs money, it's obnoxious and where are you gonna put all that stuff afterward? Besides the favors and programs, I'm monogramming maybe the champagne flutes and the cake cutter. Maybe.

thealphabride

Great Post !!! Sorry mine is long.

Dont's: photo booths, entertainment other than a band or DJ, garter and bouquet toss,  gap between wedding and reception, on location photo shoot while  your guests find something to do in between. Huge wedding party, monogramed cake topper, multiple long speeches, going into debt for your wedding, Hummer limo's, gift opening party on the Sunday after the wedding, making it a 3 day event unless you are from India, tipping vendors you've paid top dollar for and are marked up 3x anyway because it's a wedding. Cash bar. Making your maids wear the same dress, hairstyle, jewelry, and shoes.....come on!!! Everyone has different feet and shoes are very personal, one will feel comfy on some and not on others and no one sees the shoes anyway. Sense of entitlement because it's "your wedding day" the vendors prey on this type of thinking. Brides who dis their future in laws(if you don't like the in laws behavior seriously rethink who you are marrying). Bridezilla behavior at the wedding. Separate dress for the reception.

Do's: small intimate wedding party with people who won't cause drama because they love you that much, and catering to said wedding party. Looking like yourself, letting maids choose their dress, shoes, jewelry in their price range. Getting in the best shape you can for the wedding and keeping it up after you are married. Music that means something to you and your groom and your family. Keeping speeches short, sweet. Beautiful florals, GOOD FOOD, OPEN BAR, and a GREAT BAND or DJ. Candles lots of candles.  Late night coffe and sweet table or snack. 
A Family table at the reception instead of head table, let the WP sit with their spouse or date. RECEIVING LINE directly following the ceremony. It provides great photo ops and doesn't take that long to to greet your guests.  I won't walk around doing table greetings I personally find this absurd.  I am mature enough to know how to move the guests along and planned it that way. Only my groom and I will be in the RECEIVING "Line". The family will be in cocktails greeting everyone as they arrive from the ceremony which is steps away form the cocktail area. and we will sit with our family at the family table and eat dinner with them. 
Handmade WP gifts. As many pics as possible before the wedding so you can be with your guests at cocktails. Paying for some portion of your own wedding or all of it. Having the traditions of your culture included in the wedding (even if it's the money dance). Having elements you may not particularly want but that make your parents happy. Separate shoes for the reception for bride's comfort.

I have been reading these boards for years and getting married in just about a month. While planning your wedding, remember the guests will remember only a few things. Was the bride beautiful, was the ceremony emotional, could I see and hear it? was the food and drink plentiful and tasty and did we have a good time dancing and partying?

Remember the knot gods and the wedding industry vendors want you to buy into all the extra's that really aren't needed because they are in it to ??? you guessed it  - make more money. You can have a lovely wedding without breaking the bank.